Image via Wikipedia
Temptation
An Acrostic
(Eve)
Try not to think of how you’ll feel tomorrow,
E’en God can’t know the wonder of this fruit.
(Adam)
My dear, don’t you remember words of warning?
(Eve)
Perhaps God’s trying to keep us from the truth.
Take this; come on. Just try a morsel.
A snake told me that we would be just fine.
The Tree of Life has nothing like this apple.
Indeed, it offers neither food nor wine.
(Adam)
Only a tiny bite, only this one time.
No one will ever know. HEY, this one’s mine!
The story of Adam and Eve expresses many truths that dog our human nature, not the least of which is our relationship with temptation. From my own experience, I find it so easy to rationalize choices that are not consistent with my higher good or the good of others. Given a bit a distance, however, when I can see the results of my decisions with clarity, I’m confronted with the reality of my egoism. Selfishness is at the heart of our problems. My definition of “original sin” is egoism. This is what impairs the perfection of creation.
Shared with Gooseberry Garden,hosted by the talented Sashi, where the prompt for this week is Adam and Eve. http://gooseberrygoespoetic.blogspot.com/
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
This is terrific , Victoria. But what else would I expect from you but excellence. The dialog is fabulous … AND … oh ! how tempting Eve has been. ALL Mighty fine ….!!!
Below is my little attempt at this prompt … it has been interesting to see everyones take on it.
Hugs and Toodles,
Izzy xoxo
http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/adam-eve-an-amusing-story
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Great piece.
Agree with you about ego. I heard an outstanding sermon last Sunday entitled ‘Me First’. It so described the mechanical age we live in. The ego tells us that we are separate and need to compete to be first.
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I’m always amazed at the smart manner in which you approach your poetry prompts .
Would this be called an acrostical dialogue or a conversational acrostic … 🙂 🙂
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Very smooth both formally and dramatically.
I waver on the definition of sin between ego and error. Both of them reduce to fear I suppose. Sin of course is also the Egyptian (and Sumerian) god of wisdom. Did you know the story of Adam and Eve was based on an older “pagan” myth, except in that one the apple actually leads to gnosis (higher wisdom), the woman is the key to enlightenment (like in real life!). The tale we know was an intentional perversion as part of the competition between the male- and female-dominated religions (boys will be boys), to portray with her own story the female as the creator of sin (whatever that is), the cause of the fall.
It doesn’t detract from your quite-human poem. I normally wouldn’t share things like this, but I think you can take it ;-),
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I love your projected dialogue between Adam and Eve–very clever, Victoria. I would agree with you about “sin” being egoism.
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inspiring….
Thanks for sharing, Happy Poetry Picnic!
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Beautifully done, and words to ponder.
My offering this week: http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/this-eden/
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Any time I’ve tried an acrostic it comes out sounding like something a first-grader would write. Yours was wonderfully done. Great theme.
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unique and inspiring take.
Thanks for sharing.
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You handled the theme with a different class which brought in a unique addition to the list of entries…nicely done.
Cheers!
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Beautifully done – and what a perfect choice of image! The blog has a very professional look and feel to it.
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Incredibly smart, very uniquely done, a new jewel in the crown of something that touches us all……… And Ravenblack, funny that, a snake, don’t you think? As a child I slurped this stuff up, as most of us did I suppose. As an adult though the imagery suddenly broke new meaning for me. As in poetry, I think even reading the Bible our own emotions color the effect of what we find there. But as the images of a “snake” and of eating the “fruit” of the tree at the center of the “garden of life” dance around my mind and as the throes of physicality were thrust upon me as a young adult I often wondered, and quite in fear of seeming a bit lecherous, (even now) if what we are not actually seeing in this biblical fable is the admonishment against oral sex. In any event, that notion might have the propensity of yet another striking acrostic……
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https://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/temptation-gooseberry-garden/#comment-form-load-service:Twitter
Thank you for your wonderful acrostic poem…
it gave me the idea to use Haiku since the day is hectic with a procrastinating granddaughter getting ready to leave at 7 am tomorrow am…the plane leaves then ! sigh.
Thanks for being so inspirational…I love your poems.
☮ ♥ Siggi in Downeast Maine
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Love the subtlety of the acrostic.
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victoria…this is awesome! love the fresh take on an acrostic…oh we all try to justify…just a little…no one will ever know…yeah right…
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This was so smooth…and so believable. Just give me a minute and I’ll find a sign to back my ego’s urgings!
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A beautifully written, acrostic. The will to survive is a very strong instinct. It does make us selfish, at times.
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Wow! This is awesome! I wish I could do acrostics! Maybe one day I will attempt. You arre a master with words! 🙂 love that image too!
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I think Adam and Eve were bored after they finished naming all the animals in the garden. That was the only thing left to do, try that fruit. A snake told you, Eve, seriously? 😀
I do agree that selfishness is what brings a lot of misery to life and self. That self centered, “what about me” or “me first” or “why not me” or like in your poem “that’s mine” mentality really is the cause behind why some people do the things they do.
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That is sooo clever. And yes, we seem able to justify our peccadilloes, but we’re kidding ourselves most of the time.
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